Headsets are useful! Use them to communicate with runcrew, the people running lights and sound, and so on during the show.
People who maybe should have headsets
-The SM
-Anyone in the booth (person/ people running lights and sound)
-An ASM in the dressing room/ runcrew
-The House manager
How to set up headsets
-Plug in the main headset box to power
-Test headsets and beltpacks. Some work. Some don't. Test them in various combinations, and don't trust the labels. As of Spring 2013, there were at least 5 working headsets and 4 working beltpacks.
-Plug in the headset that the SM will be using into the main headset box directly via the port on the front of the box. (This will allow them to talk to both channels)
-Plug in other headsets into the belt packs. Then plug the belt packs into the back of the main headset box
-if a headset is going to not be in the booth, the cord from the belt pack to the main headset box must stretch all the way to where it's going to be used. (gaff this down so noone trips)
-There is not a way to not have headsets plugged into the box, so there will always be cords
-Channels:
-the two rows of headset plug ins on the back of the headset box control who's on what channel
-everyone on every channel can be heard by the SM (the headset plugged into the front of the box)
-The SM can talk to one or both channels, depending on what buttons they push on the front of the box
-People can only hear the SM and the other people on their channels
-You can use the channel feature to have someone like box office manager on one channel, where they won't be distracted, and have everyone else on the other channel, where they can talk about random stuff. Or you can put the director on a separate channel and give the SM headset to the lighting designer, so they can communicate about any lighting issues during a tech week rehearsal.
-You can only have 3 people (plus the SM) on each channel (so you can only have 7 headsets total)
Standard headset etiquette
-Always state when you go on or off headset
-Show related stuff takes priority. If no show related stuff needs to get said, have fun
-What happens on headset stays on headset ;)